Painting guide ruler



Patented Oct. 27, 1970 3,536,041

INVEN'fOR. O hn A. HILL @M/Qzi A T TOHNE Y John A. Hill 2569 S. Dahlia St., Denver, Colorado 80222 722,254

April 18, 1968 Oct. 27, 1970 [72] Inventor [21] App]. No.

[22] Filed [45] Patented [54] PAlNTlNG GUIDE RULER 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. CL... 118/504 [51] Int. Cl B05c 11/00 [50] Field of Search 118/504, 505; 15/248; 5l/(1nquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,517,220 8/1950 Lister 118/504 2,698,002 12/1954 Thoss 118/504 3,001,509 9/1961 Carpenter et a1.. 118/505 3,335,703 8/1967 Buehler 118/504 Primary Examiner-John P. Mclntosh Attorney-Richard D. Law

ABSTRACT: A painting guide ruler devised to allow a surface body to be painted while protecting an adjacent marginal surface and preventing smearing of the paint, includes a base member having at least one tapered side and a removable guide strip extending along the tapered side with its edge supported just above the supporting surface, thus avoiding smearing of the paint.

PAINTING GUIDE RULER The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel paint guide having a specific base member and a replaceable guide strip to assure complete protection from smearing paint on adjoining surfaces other than that being painted.

The device of the present invention accomplishes that main object by the working of the relationship between a base member having at least one tapered side and a removable guide strip extending along the tapered side of the base in such a way that its edge is just above a supporting planar surface so as to avoid smearing of the paint on such a surface in painting trim and the like protruding from the surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character equipped with a guide edge spaced from the surface to be protected so that paint running on said guide member will not flow around the same onto and smear the surface to be protected, either as the device is held stationary or as it is slid along the trim as painting progresses.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is provided with a handle for holding and positioning said device in the desired protective relation to a surface to be protected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which holds two removable guide strips attached to either side of the base member as by two screws, making it easy to remove the guide strip for purposes of cleaning and changing.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustrations in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of one form of the invention showing a base member and a single tapered side with a removable guide strip;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the guide strip supported just above a supporting surface;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a guide according to the invention, illustrating its use on upstanding trim; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of another form of the invention showing two tapered sides and two removable strips.

In general, the invention provides a paint guide having a protruding edge which is arranged to be juxtaposed a short distance above the surface on which the guide is resting. The protruding edge is removable for cleaning or discarding. The edge may be placed against trim or other features extending beyond the surface to prevent paint from smearing on the surface.

In the device illustrated in FIGS. I-3, a guide is composed ofa base member preferably made ofa light material such as plastic or the like having a long tapered side 14 and a rounded opposite side 16. The base is provided with runners l5 and 17 which rest on a planar surface. The tapered side 14 is a removable guide strip 18 extending the length of the tapered side and protruding beyond the edge 19 thereof, serving as a guide edge. This guide is positioned to be spaced from the surface on which the base is resting. The distance x above the supporting surface is sufficient to juxtapose the edge above the surface without touching it. This may be but a fraction of an inch but it is a means of protection for the surface so that paint does not run under the guide member and smear over the surface. The removable guide strip 18 is fastened to the body portion by means of two wing nuts 22 and 24 mounted respectively on studs 23 and 25. The strip is securely held by tabs 27 and 28 mounted on the studs under the wing 5 nuts. A handle 26 centrally placed on the base serves to hold the paint guide against the surface to be protected and to move same from place to place as painting progresses. The strip may be made ofa light gauge metal for easy cleaning, or a relatively rigid plastic which is discardable, reducing cleanup 10 of the painting equipment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the base is supported on a surface 30, for example a pane of glass, and it is pushed up against a windframe 32 with the edge of the strip 18 tightly against frame. In

this position the stri touches the frame but not the window 5 pane. The trim may e painted with the brush going over the strip. Any paint that flows between the strip and the frame will not smear since it does not bridge between the window pane and the strip.

The modification of FIG. 4 uses two strips, one at each side.

A base 40 is provided with runners 41 and 42 at each side. Each runner has a flat bottom for face engagement with a planar surface. A handle 45 provides means for manipulation of the guide. The upper surface 47 of the base is arcuate and includes a rabbet 48 on one side and a rabbet 49 on the opposite side. A strip 50 fits in rabbet 48 and is secured in place by a wing nut and stud assembly 55. In a similar manner a strip 56 is secured is position by a wing nut and stud assembly 57. Each strip is proportioned to have a protruding edge which is spaced above a planar surface on which the guide rests. Either strip may be used in painting which makes turning the edge to the position of painting unnecessary.

In either modification, the length of the base and strips may be any desired length; however. a length of about 12 inches is satisfactory for most uses. In smaller windows the length may have to be reduced.

While the invention has been illustrated by reference to a particular embodiment, there is no intent to limit the spirit or scope of the invention to the precise details so set forth except as defined in the following claims.

Iclaim:

l. A paint guide comprising an elongated base having at least one elongated tapered side; a pair of runners depending from said base. each said runner having a flat bottom for face engagement with a planar surface; a manipulating handle mounted on said base portion depending in the direction opposite of said runners; a removable guide strip mounted on said base and extending along said at least one tapered side of said base portion extending outwardly from said base portion with the extending edge of such strip being juxtaposed above the surface ofa body on which said base portion is resting. said strip projecting outwardly and downwardly from said base portion, said extending edge of said strip being spaced from said runners.

2. A paint guide according to claim I wherein said removable guide strip is fastened to said base portion by means of screw and nut assemblies adjustably securing said strip to its position on said base portion.

3. A paint guide according to claim I wherein said removable strip is a relatively rigid synthetic plastic sheet which is ,0 discardable. 

